Friction-clutch for traction-engines.



Patented Au 6, 19m.

No. 680,205. x

M. LAFEVER. FRICTION CLUTCH FOR TRACTION ENGINES.

(Application file? June 8, 1901.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-8heet No. 680,205. Patented Aug. 6, IQUI.

. M. LAFEVER.

FRICTION CLUTCH FOB TRACTION ENGINES.

(Application filed June 8, 1901. (no llodel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

UNITEDT STATES PATENT @FFIQE.

MINARD LAFEVER, OF BATTLECREEK, MICHIGAN.

FRICTION-CLUTCH FOR TRACTION-ENGINES.

SBEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 680,205, dated August 6, 1901.

Application filed June 8,1901- Serial No. 63,771. (No model.) j

drives the traction-wheels; and it has for its' object to provide an improved clutch of the class referred to which will be novel, simple, and inexpensive in construction and efficient and certain in operation and wherein the friction-shoes will be positively thrown both into and out of operative engagement with.

the fly-wheel of the engine. It also has for its object to improve the constructionand render more satisfactory the operation of this class of clutches generally.

To these ends my invention consists in the features and in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims following the description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification, wherein- Figure l is a View in side elevation of my improved friction-clutch. Fig. 2 is a trans verse vertical central sectional'view thereof, and Fig. 3 is a detail view illustrating the shifting-lever.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the engine or crank shaft of a traction-engine, on which is keyed a fly-wheel 2 and on which is loosely mounted a sleeve 3 and pinion 4, as is usual in machines of this class. Thepinion 4 in practice is connected 1 by a train of gearing to the traction-axle of the engine, all of which is too well knownin the art to need illustrating or describing. As before stated, the sleeve 3 and pinion 4 are loosely mounted on the engine-shaft 1, but are connected together, so as to be incapable of rotating independently of one another. The pinion and sleeve are preferably connected together by forming an annular tenon 5 on the pinion, which fits in a correspondingly-shaped socket 6 in the end of the of the collar 9.

sleeve 3, and by forming projecting ribs or teeth 7, that fit in corresponding recesses 8 in the adjacent face of the pinion. Splined on the sleeve 3 so as to be longitudinally movable thereon is a collar 9, on the periphery of which are formed a plurality of radially-projecting lugs 10. In the drawings I have shown the collar provided with two lugs 10; but it will be obvious that a greater number may be employed. The outer faces of the lugs 10 for a greater portion of their length are beveled, inclined, or tapered, as at 11, the inclination being in a direction toward the center of the fly-wheel, the remaining portion 12 of said faces being parallel to the axis Formed on the opposite sides of each of said lugs are laterally-projecting ribs .13, the inner and outer faces of which are parallel with one another and with the outer face of the lug, thus forming, in effect,

tapered T-shaped lugs, for the purpose presently to be explained.

Formed in the collar 9 is a circumferential groove 14, in which is loosely fitted a divided or sectional ring comprising two semicircular sections 15, which are connected to the yoke 16 of a shifting-lever 17 by pivot-pins 18, which are screwed in the ends of said yoke and engage suitable perforations formed centrally in the sections 15. It will be obvious that by oscillating the shifting-lever the collar 9 will be shifted longitudinally'on the sleeve 3. Formed on the inner end of the sleeve 3 is a spider, which in the present instance is shown as consisting of two pairs of approximately radial arms 19, on the outer ends of which are formed bearings 20, and between the outer ends of each pair of said arms and the perimeter of the fly-Wheel is a friction-shoe comprising a flat metallicplate 21, to which is securely bolted or otherwise suitably fastened a segmental wooden block 22. Fixed in the plate 21 are two inwardlyextending pins 23, which are loosely fitted in thebearings 20 and form guides to guide the shoes in their inward and outward movements. Formed with and extending radially inward from the center of each of the plates 21 is a flat arm 24, the inner ends of which project laterally, as at 25, and rest against the faces of the arms 19 of the spider. Adjustably secured to theouter face of each of ICO - versely as said lugs are moved in the opposite direction or away from the fly-wheel the inner faces of the ribs 13 on the lugs will act as wedges on the recessed ends of the thrustplates and move the latter radially inward. The thrust-plates are adj ustably secured to the arms 24 by bolts 28, which pass through slots 29,formed in the thrust-plates and arms, and are provided with nuts 30. By loosening the nuts the arms 24, carrying the frictionshoes, can be adjusted radially outward to cause the shoes to properly engage the flange of'the fly-wheel. For compensating for wear of the friction-shoes from time to time I provide the following means: Formed on the outer end of each of the thrust-plates is an interiorly-threaded boss 31, in which is arranged a headed bolt 32, the. head of said bolt being arranged to engage the inner end of a' lug or projection 33, formed on the corresponding arm 24. l/Vhen the face of one of the shoes becomes worn, it will be evident that by turning the bolt 32 in the proper direction it will force the projection 33, and with it the corresponding shoe, radially,outward into intimate contact with the flange of the fly-wheel, and thus compensate for the wearing away of the shoe. Joining the ends of each of the arms 19 is an arched web or brace 34, and formed on the inner face of each of the arms 24 is a flange 35, and between said flanges and arched webs or braces are arranged coiled'springs 3.6, which operate when the friction-clutch is thrown out of operation to thrust the arms-24 radially in ward. The purpose of the springs 36 is to take up lost motion that occurs-in the moving parts of the clutch after they become worn or any lost motion that may occur between the parts when the latter are new. The engagement between the thrust-plates and lugs 10 is a loose one to permit the utmost freedom of movement of the lugs, and were it not for the springs when the clutch was thrown out of operation it would rattle, due to the lost motion in the parts referred to, and the same result would ensue when the other parts become worn from long use.

The operation of my improved clutch will be readily understood from the foregoing description. As long as the traction-engine is being propelled forward the friction-shoes must he in engagement with the flange of the fly-wheel, and this is effected by moving the collar 9 toward the fly-wheel. This movement of the collar causes the tapered or inclined faces of the lugs 10 to force the thrustplates 24 outward, and. of course also forces the shoes out against the flange of the flywheel. The rotary movement of the engineshaft and the fly-wheel fixed thereon will then be transmitted to the collar 9, sleeve 3, and pinion 4, and through the gearing driven by the latter to the traction-axle of the engine and propel the latter forward. After the tapered orinclined faces of the lugs have forced the thrust-plates outward the straight faces 12'of said lugswill engage the ends of the thrust-platesand hold the latter thrust outward. Let it be assumed, however, that the engine meets with an obstruction or short stretch of roadway that its motive power is not sufficient to easily propel it over. Then the collar 9 is moved away from the fly-wheel, causing the lugs 10 to act on the thrust-plates and draw the latter and the friction-shoes radially inward, thereby disconnecting the fly-wheel from the propelling-gearing. The engine-shaft and fly-wheel will now run free,

and after the engine has been speeded up and the fly-wheel has acquired great momentum the collar is again movedtoward the fly-wheel to throw the friction-clutch into operation,

whereupon the fly-wheel and propelling-gearing are again connected up and the acquired momentum will suftice to move the engine forward.

By so arranging the inner ends of the arms 24 that they lie against the faces of the arms 19 of the spider said arms 24 when the lugs 10 are moved inward to set the friction-clutch will have a bearing against the arms of the spider, and will thus be prevented from being thrust or bent to one side.

Obviously many of the details of my invention may be altered or varied without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do nottherefore wish it to be understoodas confining myself to the details of construction herein shown and described, excepting as hereinafter specifically set forth in the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. Ina traction-engine, the combination withthe engine-shaft and the fly-wheel fixed thereon, of a sleeve loose on the shaft-collar movable on the sleeve and rotatably connected with the driving-gearingof the engine, said collar being provided with a plurality of projecting lugs having tapered outer faces, friction-shoes operatively connected to the sleeve arranged to engage the flange of the fiy-wheel, thrust-plates connected with said friction-shoes and arranged to be engaged at their inner ends by said lugs, and means for moving said collar longitudinally on the sleeve to cause the tapered lugs to engage the ends of the thrust-plates and force the friction-shoes into engagement with the flange of the fly-wheel, substantially as described.

2. In a traction-engine, the combination with the engine-shaft and the fly-wheel fixed thereon, of a sleeve loose on the shaft-collar movable on the sleeve and rotatably connected withthe drivinggearing of the' engine, said collar being provided with a plurality of projecting lugs each having a portion of its outer face beveled and the remaining portion parallel with the axis of the collar, frictionshoes operatively connected to the sleeve arranged to engage the flange of the flywheel, thrustplates connected with said friction-shoes and arranged to be engaged at their inner ends by said lugs, and means for moving said collar longitudinally on the sleeve to cause the tapered portions of the lugs to engage the ends of the thrust-plates and thrust the friction-shoes into engagement with the flange of the fly-wheel and to force the parallel faces of saidlugs into engagement with the thrust-plates and hold the frictionshoes in contact with the flange of the flywheel, substantially as described.

3. In a traction-engine, the combination with the engine-shaft and the fly-wheel fixed thereon, of a sleeve loose on the shaft-collar movable on the sleeve and rotatably connected with the driving-gearing of the engine, said collar being provided with a plurality of projecting lugs T-shaped in cross-section and having tapered outer faces and correspondingly-tapered laterally-projecting ribs on its opposite sides, friction-shoes operatively connected to the sleeve arranged to engage the flange of the fly-wheel, thrust-plates connected with said friction-shoes and provided at their inner ends with T-shaped slots in which the said lugs are loosely fitted, and means for moving the collar longitudinally on the sleeve to cause the lugs to move the thrust-plates and friction-shoes radially in and out, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

4. In a traction-engine, the combination with the engine-shaft and the fly-wheel-fixed thereon, of a sleeve loose on the shaft-collar movable on the sleeve and rotatably connected with the driving-gearing of the engine, said collar being provided with a plurality of projecting lugs having tapered outer faces, friction-shoes operatively connected to the sleeve arranged to engage the flange of the fly-wheel, thrust-plates adj ustably connected with said friction-shoes and arranged to be engaged at their inner ends by said lugs, and means for moving the collar longitudinally on the sleeve to cause the tapered lugs to engage the ends of the thrust-plates and force the friction-shoes into engagement with the flange of the fly-Whecl, substantially as described.

5. In a traction-engine, the combination with the engine-shaft and the fly-wheel fixed thereon, of a sleeve loose on the shaft-collar movable on the sleeve and rotatably connected with the driving-gearing of the engine, said collar being provided with a plurality of projecting lugs having tapered outer faces, friction-shoes operatively connected to the sleeve arranged to engage the flange of the fly-wheel, thrust-plates adj ustably connected with said friction-shoes and arranged to be engaged at their inner ends by said lugs, meansfor moving the collar longitudinally on the sleeve to cause the tapered lugs to engage the ends of the thrust-plates and force the friction-shoes into engagement with the flange of the fly-wheel, and means for adjusting the friction-shoes radially outward to compensate for wear, substantially as described.

6. In a traction-engine, the combination with the engine-shaft and the fly-wheel fixed thereon, of a sleeve loose on the shaft-collarmovable on the sleeve and rotatablyconnected with the driving-gearing of the engine, friction-shoes operatively connected to the sleeve arranged to engage the flange of the fly-wheel and provided with inwardly-projecting arms, inwardly-extending thrust-plates adj ustably bolted to said arms, and provided at their inner ends with T-shaped slots, radially-projecting tapered T-shaped lugs on the periphery of the collar and loosely fitted in said T-shaped slots, and means for moving the collar longitudinally on the sleeve to cause said lugs to thrust the friction-shoes radially in and out, substantially as described.

7. In a traction-engine, the combination with the engine-shaft and the fly-wheel fixed thereon, of a sleeve loose on the shaft-collar movable on the sleeve and rotatably connected with the driving-gearing of the engine, friction-shoes operatively connected to the sleeve arranged to engage the flange of the fly-wheel and provided with inwardly-projecting arms, inwardlyextending thrustplates adj ustably attached to said arms and provided at their inner ends with T-shaped slots, wedge-shaped lugs on the periphery of the collar and T-shaped in cross-section, said lugs being loosely fitted in said T- shaped slots and each having an untapered portion, and means for moving the collar longitudinally on the sleeve to move the thrust-plates radially in and out, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. In a traction-engine, the combination with the engine-shaft and the fly-wheel fixed thereon, of a sleeve loose on the shaft-collar movable on the sleeve and rotatably connected with the driving-gearing of the engine, a spider on the collar, bearings on the outer ends of the spider-arms, friction-shoes arranged to engage the flange of the fly-wheel, pins projecting inwardly from the said shoes and loosely fitted in said bearings, arms projecting radially inward from the friction-shoes, thrust-plates adjust-ably connected to said arms, devices carried by said collar for engaging the thrust-plates and moving them radially, and means for moving the collar longitudinally on the sleeve, substantially as described.

9..In a traction-engine, the combination with the engine-shaft and the fly-wheel fixed thereon, of a sleeve loose on the shaft-collar movable on the sleeve and rotatably connected with the driving-gearing of the engine, a

spider on the sleeve, radially-movable friction-shoes carried by the spider-arms and arranged to engage the flange of the fly-wheel, arms projecting radiallyinward from the friction-shoes and having a sliding bearing on the v spider-arms, thrust-plates adjustably connected to said arms, means for moving the collar longitudinally on the sleeve, and devices carried by the collar for engaging and moving the thrust-plates radially, substantially as described.

10. In a traction-engine, the combination with the engine-shaft and the fly-Wheel fixed thereon, of a sleeve loose on the shaft-collar movable on the sleeve and rotatably connected with the driving-gearof the engine, a spider on the sleeve, radially movable friction-shoes carried by the spider-arms and arranged to engage the flange of the flywheel, arms pro MINARD LAFEVER.

Witnesses:

B. T. SKINNER, C. E. THOMAS. 

